Tennis net



E. F. DIEBALL May 22, 1934.

TENNIS NET Filed Jan. 19, 1931 ill ll'nill llllnl alga Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES TENNIS NET Edward F. Dieball,

Chicago, 111., assignor to American Wire Fence Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application January 19,

1931, Serial No. 509,642

8 Claims. (Cl. 273-29) This invention relates to tennis nets.

Tennis nets heretofore in use have generally been made of cotton cord or other non-metallic fabric material and have not been entirely satisfactory. When used outdoors, such fabric nets must be removed to a shelter in the event of rain because moisture causes them to shrink and rot. Even in fair weather, cotton nets are seldom left outdoors over night. Such fabric nets are also objectionable because they tear easily and because they stretch and lose their shape. In order to conform to the rules of the game, tennis nets must be kept at a certain height throughout the game. At the present time, the regulation height is thirty-six inches at the center of the net and forty-two inches adjacent each post. Cotton nets have a tendency to sag and slip, and, therefore, it is necessary for the players to readjust such a net several times during each tournament.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of metal net which will withstand all kinds of weather conditions so that when once set up it may be left on the court all season if desired; to provide a wire net which is expansible and contractible whereby its tension may be varied so as to permit the net to have the desired effect upon a ball striking it; to provide improved means for tensioning the net; to provide improved means for adjusting the height of the net; to provide a metal net of this kind having an improved form of non-metallic facing extending along its upper edge; to provide improved means for adjusting the tension of said facing; and to provide a net of this kind in which the tension of the facing and the net may be varied without altering the height of the net.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a tennis net to which this invention is applied; one of the supporting posts being also shown.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, partly broken away, showing the adjustable means which are located at both ends of the net for securing the net to the two end posts.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In the form herein shown, the improved net includes a metal mesh 1 made of suitable rust resisting material such as galvanized wire. This mesh preferably comprises a plurality of transversely disposed strands in the form of flattened helices which are loosely interwoven so as to permit the mesh to expand and contract when it is desired to vary its tension. The upper ends of alternate strands slidably embrace a supporting cable 2 and the upper ends of the other strands are looped around those which embrace the cable.

Secured to the ends of the supporting cable 2 are screws 3 adapted for threaded engagement with adjusting members 4, which extend through the usual posts 5. By means of the adjusting members 4 the tension of the cable 2 may be varied to increase or decrease the depth of the catenary, thereby varying the height of the mesh 1 at the center portion of the net midway 79 between the end posts 5.

With the usual tennis nets heretofore in use, the tension of the net could not be varied without simultaneously altering the height of the net. In the construction herein shown, the loose slidable connection between the cable 2 and the strands of the mesh 1 attached thereto permits the mesh to be expanded and contracted independently of the cable 2 and, therefore, without in any degree altering the height of the net. 90 The metal stock used to form the strands of the mesh 1 is of such size and strength as to prevent collapsing of the flattened helical convolutions of the individual'strands under any strain that might be exerted during the net tensioning operation. The portions of the strands between each helical apex are straight so that the only movement imparted to the strands is in a horizontal lateral direction, each strand acting as a separate rigid unit to either tighten or loosen the contacts with the interwoven helical convolutions of the next adjacent strand. In ordinary use it is practically impossible for a person to exert sufiicient force during the tensioning operation, to distort the net in a vertically lateral direction. The width of the mesh will therefore always remain constant and the height of the mesh supporting cable 2 will be unaffected. This feature is highly desirable because, although the height of every tennis net must be uniform, some players prefer a tight net while others prefer a loose one.

The ends of the mesh 1 are preferably reinforced with bars 6 to which are attached screws 7 having threaded engagement with adjusting members 8 extending through the posts 5. The purpose of these bars is not only to bind in the end edges of the mesh, but also to uniformly distribute the tensioning force exerted by the adjusting members 8 to each tensioning operation.

convolution of the flattened helical strands. By equally adjusting the members 8, and thereby the attaching screws '7, the force exerted on the end of the net is evenly applied or released, and the mesh can be uniformly expanded or contracted longitudinally in this manner.

Extending along the upper edge of the mesh, is a facing 9 made of canvas or other suitable non-metallic fabric. The facing 9 is detachably secured to the mesh so as to be readily removable to permit it to be replaced when worn out. In the form shown, the facing is secured to the net by telescoping screw members 10 extending through openings in the mesh and through grommets 11 in the facing.

The action of a tennis ball striking against the upper edge of a net is dependent largely upon the tension of the upper edge. With nets heretofore in use it has not been possible to vary the tension of the upper edge of the net without simultaneously altering the height of the net and varying the tension of the mesh.

In the improved construction herein shown, separate means is provided for varying the ten- .sion of the facing without disturbing the mesh.

This includes a cable 12 extending through the facing directly above the cable 2. Secured to the ends of the cable 12, are screws 13 threaded into adjusting members 14 which extend ,through the posts 5.

To vary the tension of the facing 9 it is merely necessary to take up or let out the screw 13 by means of the adjusting member 14. This action decreases or increases the depth of the catenary formed by the cable 12 thereby drawing the facing more taut between the cables 12 and 2 or causing it to relax. It is understood that extreme tightening of the cable 12 might have the eifect of raising the cable 2 at the center of the net. However, in ordinary use only a small variation of the tension of cable 12 is sufficient to tighten or relax the facing 9 and the height of the cable 2 will remain undisturbed. The extraordinary weight of the metal mesh net provides' a sufficient warning to prevent any person from inad-. vertently drawing the cable 12 too taut, and for that reason there is small likelihood of the cable 2 being affected during the facing Furthermore, the weight of the net hanging from the cable 2 is sufficient so that only a fraction of the tension necessary in cable 2 need ever be applied to cable 12 in order to attain the maximum tension required in the facing 9.

With this improved construction, there are three separate adjustments. The height of the net is controlled by the cable 2 which may be adjusted by the screw members 4. The tension of the wire mesh is controlled by the screw members 8 and the tension of the facing 9 is controlled by the cable 12 and screw members 14. It will thus be apparent that after the net has been adjusted as to height, the height is not altered when adjustments are madefor varying the tension of the mesh and facing.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that certain details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

1. A tennis net comprising a horizontal supporting cable, a wire mesh slidably supported on said cable so as to be expansible and contractible relative to said cable to permit variation in the tension of said mesh without altering the height of the net.

2. A tennis net comprising a horizontal supporting cable, and a wire mesh having a plurality of vertically disposed loosely interwoven strands slidably supported on said cable so as to be relatively movable laterally to permit expansion and contraction of the mesh without altering the height of said cable.

3. A tennis net comprising a horizontal supporting cable, adjusting means engaging an end of said cable for varying the height of the net, a wire mesh slidably supported on said cable so as to be expansible and contractible relative thereto, and other adjusting means engaging one end of said mesh for varying the tension of said mesh independently of said supporting cable.

4. A tennis net comprising a supporting cable, adjusting means engaging an end of said cable for varying the height of the net, a wire mesh having a plurality of vertically disposed interwoven strands suspended from said cable, said strands being movable laterally relative to one another and relative to said cable, and other adjusting means engaging an end of said mesh for varying the tension of said mesh independently of said cable.

5. A tennis net comprising a wire mesh, a nonmetallic fabric facing extending along the upper edge of said mesh, and means for varying the tension of said facing independently of said mesh and without altering the height of said mesh.

6. A tennis net comprising a pair of substantially horizontal cables arranged one above the other, a mesh suspended from the lower of said cables, a flexible facing secured to said mesh and suspended from the upper of said cables, and adjusting means engaging an end of said upper cable for varying the tension of said facing independently of said mesh.

'7. A tennis net comprising a pair of substantially horizontal cables arranged one above the other, a wire mesh suspended from the lower of said cables, a non-metallic facing secured to said mesh and wrapped around the upper of said cables, adjusting means engaging an end of said lower cable for varying the height of said mesh, and other adjusting means engaging an end of said upper cable for varying the tension of said facing independently of said mesh and without altering the height of said mesh.

8. A tennis net comprising a pair of substantially horizontal cables arranged one above the other, a wire mesh suspended from the lower of said cables, a non-metallic facing secured to said mesh and wrapped around the upper of said cables, adjusting means engaging an end of said lower cable for varying the height of said mesh, means engaging an end of said mesh for varying the tension of said mesh, and other adjusting means engaging an end of said upper cable for varying the tension of said facing independently of said mesh and without altering the height of said mesh.

EDWARD F. DIEBALL. 

